Qui mange des crêpes quand la Chandeleur est arrivée, est sûr d’avoir argent pendant l’année.
(Whoever eats crepes when Candlemas arrives is sure to have money throughout the year).
Well, we’re talking pancakes again this week (as in this Christmas post), but this time with an added benefit: these pancakes are going to bring in money! Or so goes the saying, for the French celebration known as La Chandeleur.
Because we always go to the States for the month of February, I’ve never experienced a true French Chandeleur, but we have celebrated it with the Alliance Française in Charleston. It’s a celebration rich in religious tradition, folklore, and superstition. And good food, bien sûr.
Candlemas, a Catholic holiday celebrating the purification of the virgin and the presentation of Jesus at the temple, is a feast day celebrated on February 2. Traditinally one lights candles at midnight for the celebration. There are prospertity related themes, too: holding a coin in your dominant hand while flipping a crepe, or saving a coin for a year, later given to a beggar. There are also some superstitions that are ground hog day-esque, since it’s a turning point for winter:
Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte; rosée à la Chandeleur, hiver à sa dernière heure
(Candlemas covered {in snow}, forty days lost; dew on Candlemas, winter at its final hour)
So why crepes for this feast? Crepes are round and golden like le soleil, and the sun brings warmth to winter and a bountiful harvest. And also I imagine it just seems a good way to perk up winter— gather friends and have a crepe party.
At the Alliance feast, les crêpes are made on the spot for the revelers, with various wonderful toppings and fillings, savory or sweet. Another idea: recently I came across this photo, of a sort of crepe stack cake. No recipe needed: just make some crepes, spread them with Nutella, top with fruit. Instant party. My best wishes for a sunny winter and lots of good fortune in the coming year!
In the COMMENTS: Merci for all the nice New Year's wishes, same to you! Betty of the La France Profonde blog (reporting from Aveyron) has a verrine recipe for us. Verrines are popular in France, sounds like a good blog topic for the future! Anne Marie has read The French House and has a review for us.
Favorite Reads: None to recommend this week, but a favor to ask: I would love to have some fresh reviews of my book, How to Learn a New Language with a Used Brain
And last of all, I'd like to send a prayer to the families of the victims of the massacre in Paris this week, and a prayer for peace.
8 thoughts on “Of Candles and Crepes: “La Chandeleur””
Thank you for the mention! I’m not sure I would call my comment a “recipe,” but after 25 years of living in France, I improvise about everything I cook — so I wouldn’t be able to come up with more if I tried. Verrines are fun though.
I have never really bothered to look into what La Chandeleur is really all about (other than eating crêpes!) so this was informative.
Such a lovely Candlemas column! Thank you, Lynn.
Thinking of all those affected by this tragedy in Paris and surroundings.
Lynn and Readers, If you haven’t read “The French House, An American Family, a Ruined Maison, and the Village that Restored Them All”, by Don Wallace, you must! You referred to it a couple of weeks ago. It is just what the title says.
The house is on the tiny island of Belle Ile off the coast of Brittany, but the story is more about the relationships among the people and the Wallaces, as well as the ruin restoration. I downloaded it on my Kindle, and immediately upon finishing ordered the book. Belle Ile is such a charming place that we are planning to vacation there.
I even sent a query to Don Wallace through the link on his website, doubting that I would ever get a response, and I had an email back from him that very day! What a surprise!
Hello, I have a used brain, so I bought your book. The best part for me was the validation that French really is a hard language to learn! Also the idea that immersion is key has helped me quite a bit. I am still trying and NOT giving up!
Its a nice book.
Thanks, Lynn, for the article about La Chandeleur. As a non-practicing Catholic, I’d forgotten all about Candlemas, until the other day when I read that in some European countries, the nativity is left out ’til Candlemas, and sometimes other decorations as well. I decided to follow suit.
I just bought a package of Weisenberger Mills pancake mix (a KY product) which had a recipe for crepes. Basically crepes are thinner than pancakes, and more eggy, n’est-ce pas? I’m going to try them, and if they turn out, will try again on Feb. 2. Is there any way that the crepes can be made ahead and perhaps frozen?
I also read “The French House” – on my Nook. I really loved it, although I’m not sure I would have been able to stick with the commitment over the years. It took perseverance but it was certainly worth it.
I’d much rather celebrate the New Year with crepes than black-eyed peas and greens and hamhocks. Thank goodness sister-in-law brought turkey chili to our family festivities.
I so enjoyed learning about La Chandeleur Lynn from your post today. Marking my calendar to make crepes and try to replicate some of the wonderful traditions! Mille merci’s. Hearts and thoughts with all our French friends and Francophiles following the terrorism in Paris this past week. Courage et oui, bien sur, la solidarite.